NAMES IN THE NEWS

TNT commentator DOUG COLLINS agreed to a deal to coach the
Pistons for $6.5M over five years (DETROIT FREE PRESS,
4/28)....Yankees Owner GEORGE STEINBRENNER faces a Senate probe
over Navy ship building contracts (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
4/28)....SANDHI ORTIZ-DEL VALLE's quest to officiate in the NBA
is profiled by Lars Anderson in SI. Ortiz-Del Valle, who
officiates in the USBL, is the first woman ever to work a men's
pro game. Also, NBA VP/Ops ROD THORN's job as discipline czar is
profiled by Jack McCallum (SI, 5/1).
ATHLETES TURNED TV STARS: PATRICK EWING made a guest
appearance on "Mad About You" last night (NBC, 4/27).... "Extra"
reported on MIKE PIAZZA's appearance on "Baywatch." In the show,
Piazza is seen swinging a baseball bat on the beach as the show's
star PAMELA ANDERSON walks up and says, "Excuse me, why are you
swinging that baseball bat?" Piazza: "Well, I'm a baseball
player." The two then run off to save a drowning swimmer
("extra," 4/27).